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House Bill H0312a
2015 Freedom Index Score: (-6) (-15)
Analyst: Parrish Miller
Date of analysis: March 28, 2015 April 7, 2015
ANALYST'S NOTE: House Bill 312a increases numerous vehicle registration fees and implements new
supplemental registration fees for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. The bill also increases the fuel
tax by 4 cents a gallon in 2015, an additional 4 cents a gallon in 2017, and yet an additional 2 cents a
gallon in 2019. This is a total increase of 10 cents per gallon or 40 percent. All told, this bill is a de facto
tax increase of $20 $127 million annually (once the full fuel tax increases have been fully implemented.)
Please note that page numbers refer to the original version of the bill as an engrossed bill does not yet
exist.
Point No. 5 — Does it directly or indirectly create or increase any taxes, fees, or other assessments?
Conversely, does it eliminate or reduce any taxes, fees, or other assessments?
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a modifies Section 49-402, Idaho Code, to increase the annual
registration fees on vehicles and pickup trucks not in excess of 8,000 pounds as follows:
 For vehicles 1-2 years old, the fee increases from $48 to $63 $73. (+31%) (+52%)
 For vehicles 3-6 years old, the fee increases from $36 to $51 $61. (+42%) (+69%)
 For vehicles 7 years old or older, the fee increases from $24 to $39 $49. (+63%) (+104%)
[Page 1, lines 11-20] (-1) (-2)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a further modifies Section 49-402, Idaho Code, to increase the annual
registration fees on "all motorcycles and motor-driven cycles which comply with the federal
motor vehicle safety standards, operated upon the public highways" The annual registration fee
increases from $9 to $15 $19. (+67%) (+111%) [Page 2, lines 4-8] (-1) (-2)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a modifies Section 49-434, Idaho Code, to increase registration fees on
all commercial vehicles, noncommercial vehicles, and on all farm vehicles having a maximum
gross weight not in excess of sixty thousand (60,000) pounds. Each of these registration fees—
from $48 to $515.40—is increased by $15 $25. (+3% - +31%) (+5% - +52%) [Page 4, lines 18-19]
(-1) (-2)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a further modifies Section 49-434, Idaho Code, to increase the
registration fee on all commercial and farm vehicles having a maximum gross weight in excess of
sixty thousand (60,000) pounds. This registration fee is based upon the maximum gross weight
of a vehicle as declared by the owner and the total number of miles driven on roads and
highways in the state, county, city and highway district systems in Idaho, and if registered under
the international registration plan (IRP), in all other jurisdictions. Each of these registration
fees—from $223 to $5,860—is increased by $15 $25. (+.3% - +7%) (+.4% - +11%) [Page 8, lines
1-2] (-1) (-2)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a creates Section 49-457, Idaho Code, which imposes two new and
additional registration fees on electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles respectively. Subsection 1
reads as follows: "An electric vehicle fee of one hundred fifty forty dollars ($150 $140) shall be
collected in addition to all other registration fees assessed pursuant to this chapter on each
electric vehicle registered." [Page 9, lines 9-12] (-1)
Subsection 2 reads as follows: "A hybrid vehicle fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($100
$75) shall be collected in addition to all other registration fees assessed pursuant to this chapter
on each hybrid vehicle registered." [Page 9, lines 13-15] (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a modifies Section 63-2402 to increase from 25 cents per gallon to 29
cents per gallon the tax on motor fuels on and after July 1, 2015. (+16%) (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a modifies Section 63-2402 to increase from 29 cents per gallon to 33
cents per gallon the tax on motor fuels on and after July 1, 2017. (+14%) (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a modifies Section 63-2402 to increase from 33 cents per gallon to 35
cents per gallon the tax on motor fuels on and after July 1, 2019. (+6%) (-1)
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a adds "legislative intent" language which states that "it is the intent of
the Legislature that on or before January 1, 2021, there shall be imposed on all commercial
vehicles, irrespective of body type, and on all farm vehicles having a maximum gross weight in
excess of sixty thousand (60,000) pounds, an annual registration fee and in addition thereto, an
operating fee by weight class based on the total miles the owner operated such vehicle on roads
and highways in the state, county, city and highway district systems in Idaho during each quarter
of the calendar year."
This language affirmatively declares that the legislature intends to increase taxes in a manner
which is highly likely to be passed on to consumers either directly or indirectly. (-1)
Point No. 10 — Does it directly or indirectly create or increase penalties for victimless crimes or nonrestorative penalties for non-violent crimes? Conversely, does it eliminate or decrease penalties for
victimless crimes or non-restorative penalties for non-violent crimes?
ANALYSIS: House Bill 312a adds "legislative intent" language which states that "it is the intent of
the Legislature that the Idaho State Police and the State Tax Commission shall, no later than the
first day of the 2016 legislative session, provide recommendations to the Senate Transportation
Committee and the House Transportation and Defense Committee on greater enforcement of
the prohibition of dyed fuel and other untaxed fuel use on Idaho roads and highways. "
Such "greater enforcement" procedures will serve to enhance the scope and power of
government and will necessarily burden Idahoans. At a time when efforts should be undertaken
to reduce the intrusion of government and to curtail the growth of the police state, this intent
language moves Idaho in the wrong direction. (-1)